Abstract
Homo Sapiens are highly inclined by their surroundings covered by social and physical environments. Social environment
develops human personalities, behaviors, and social interactions while physical environment (including air, water, soil, flora,
fauna, and energy) provides the necessities and luxuries of life. Globally, societies (rural, urban, modern, and traditional) are
highly dependent on the ecological resources to fulfill their socio-economic needs. Wetlands are considered as a significant
component of environment that provide tangible and intangible benefits to fisherman communities regarding eco-resources
and eco-services. Indus, the largest river of Pakistan, has most ancient civilizations, cultures, unique ecologies, and biodiversity
from the alpine lakes of the Himalayas to the deltaic regions of Sind. Current study focuses on the Central Indus Wetlands
Complex comprising Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur barrages and Indus basin crossing nine districts of the Punjab and
Sindh provinces. The study examines the role of the Punjab and Sindh governments policies on agro-fisheries based
communities of Central Indus Wetlands Complex to measure the influence of freshwater bodies on socio-economic status of
dependent fishermen communities. Using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 608 fishermen (Punjab=373 and
Sindh=235) having fishing as major occupation was carefully chosen. Non-Probability purposive sampling was used because
the population was unknown and very difficult to approach in and along the Indus River. Analysis based on statistical models
to study the extent of Indus River on socio-economic status of dependent fisherfolks. Results show that Indus River fisherfolks
are highly deprived due to current provincial policies for fishing; bivariate analysis indicates that provincial policies have high
association with income (0.000), expenditure (0.000) and remaining debt (0.132) of fishermen and a unanimous policy is
required for the preservation of the rights of fishermen as well as natural capital (wetlands).
Saeed Akbar, Saif Abbasi, Farhan Navid Yousaf, Muhammad Babar Akram, Muzaffar Hussain Salik, Muhammad Ali Tarar. (2020) IMPACT OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON AGROFISHERIES BASED COMMUNITIES OF CENTRAL INDUS WETLANDS COMPLEX, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 57, Issue 5.
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